AP Photo/Mel EvansThe University Hospital of Newark in this 2005 AP photo. The hospital has called upon outside pest control experts to help with a mouse infestation in one of its intensive care units.

NEWARK — University Hospital in Newark has called in outside experts to investigate reports of a worsening rodent problem in one of its intensive care units, hospital officials said today.

Pest control workers were brought in after reports of mice sightings in an area of the building housing some of the hospital’s sickest patients. But, hospital administrators do not believe the hospital has a widespread problem, said Jeffrey Tolvin, a spokesman for the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, which oversees the hospital.

"University Hospital has a strong pest control program. This includes outside pest control experts who are on site regularly and as needed," Tolvin said. "We therefore do not believe a problem exists, however we have responded immediately to concerns brought to our attention and have asked our outside experts to confirm that that is in fact the case."

The hospital complex, located off Bergen Street, has 519 beds and the busiest trauma center in the state, UMDNJ officials said. Last year, University Hospital admitted nearly 20,000 patients and treated another 236,000 as outpatients.